As vacationers review enticing travel brochures for Cancun showing miles of high rise hotels extended along the beach toward the horizon, they rarely realize that as recently as 1980 Cancun simply did not exist. For hundreds of years the area was just a small village of fisherman on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula with more resident mosquitoes than people. The Yucatan Peninsula was simply known then as the former home of the ancient Mayans and more recently as a hide out for Caribbean pirates. Since the travel conditions were so harsh and no real accommodations existed, those looking for beaches and sun simply travelled to Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta.

Then in 1967, when the Mexican government was looking for ways to improve the country’s economy, a data-crunching computer selected an isolated, swampy finger of land (now known as Cancun) as Mexico’s most promising future tourist destination. During the ensuing investigation, it was determined that this area of the Yucatan had all the elements it needed to become one of the world’s most beautiful tourist destinations.

Cancun was literally designed and built from the ground up for its purpose: tourism. With the Federal government’s focus on this, funding was poured into infrastructure and roads development. And then in 1974, Quintana Roo was admitted as Mexico’s 30th State after achieving the necessary 80,000 in population for the area. Once the infrastructure had enticed a base workforce, the resort building boom of the 1980’s occurred and the rest is history as they say.

Today Cancun boasts a population of more than 500,000 and enjoys over 3 million visitors annually.

There are Actually Two Different Cancuns for Travelers to Explore!

It's worth noting that there are actually 2 Cancuns. There is Cuidad de Cancun which if approached from the mainland side (rather than by air over the sea,) seems very much like any other town in Mexico. The residents live in neighborhoods and there are commerical and business districts located throughout the city where folks work and go to by groceries, clothing and general merchandise.

The hotel and resort facilities are all concentrated on Isla Cancun which is generally just referred to as the Hotel Zone. Isla Cancun is simply a 15 mile long elbow shaped sand bar island that is only a quarter of a mile wide. Between it and the mainland's Cuidad de Cancun is the Laguna Nichupte.

So in essence as travelers arrive to Cancun and stay in the resorts, they are only seeing one part of Cancun. All of the big resorts and fine, upscale shopping, restaurants and nightclubs will be found in the Hotel Zone where tourists can find them easily. So remember there is no need to venture out of the Hotel Zone for much unless one is simply adventurous and wants to explore more of the "real" Cancun.

Cancun Accommodations - Hotels & Resorts

Use INSIDER'S Search & Reservation Tool for the best hotel prices available in CANCUN!

This search tool looks all over the web for the best prices and will AUTOMATICALLY pull up the results for other popular search engines of your choice like KAYAK, Booking.com, Priceline, Expedia and so forth so there is no need to go from site to site looking for the best airfare!

This search tool for airfares is absolutely free and they do NOT process any reservations for any airlines so no need to worry about any bias in the search finding results!

Air Shuttle Schedules Cancun - Cozumel

to Cozumel from Cancun via land ~

Travelers take a 1 hour bus or taxi ride from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen

In Playa del Carmen travelers take a 40 minute ferry ride to the island of Cozumel.

to Cozumel from Cancun via airline ~avoid this additional travel time of the bus and then ferry to Cozumel, visitors often use the 15 minute air shuttle which departs from the same Cancun Airport.

There are two airline small plane shuttles operating between Cancun and Cozumel although one provider, Aero Tucan seems to come and go with the seasons.
Approximate cost is around US$75 per person one way but does vary throughout the year.
Schedules and prices may change at any time without prior notice.

Be sure to ASK about luggage weight restrictions because these small planes have little room for luggage and often impose surcharges for bags weighing more than 20 lbs or 10 kg and this could negate any savings you gained elsewhere in your route plan!

Cancun Transportation - Getting Around the Area

Use INSIDER'S Search & Reservation Tool for the best car rental prices in CANCUN!

Bus Services from Cancun

For the adventurous traveler there are many tourist site excursions on the mainland available by bus. It's a great (inexpensive) way to travel throughout the Mayan Riviera, however there are many pitfalls of which to be concerned.

Make sure you communicate with the driver ahead of time where you want to be dropped off. Some stops are not bus stations (like in Playa del Carmen) but just stops along the highway which are unmarked. The driver won't stop unless there is someone waiting at the stop or a request is made from a passanger to stop. So speak up if you need to exit the bus.

When purchasing a bus ticket, all you get is the bus ticket. Nothing is included in the form of admittance into the destination, tour guide, or translation of tour itself.

The best option for purchasing bus tickets is to either do so online if one is familiar with the bus line or simply purchase tickets upon arrival at the bus station in Cancun.

For travelers in Cozumel wanting to explore the mainland via bus there is an ADO (one of the most popular bus lines) Ticket office near the corner of Calle 2 Norte & Avenida 10 next to TELCEL store. Pass by to check schedules, destinations and/or approximate costs for budgeting purposes and to buy tickets.

The main bus station for Cancun is in the downtown area of Cuidad de Cancun in the business/commercial district. Across the street is a hotel and there are many nearby restaurants as well in case travelers want to linger awhile before venturing on to another destination.

Some approximate sample fairs and travel times from Cancun include:
(These are subject to change. Check for Tours to these places also!)

Destination

Cost (Pesos)

Travel Time

Merida

246

5 hour

Chetumal

228

5 hours

Coba

46

2 hours

Chichen Itza

140

3 ½ hours

Akumal

100

2 hours

Puerto Morelos

18

30 minute

Cancun

36

1 hour

Tulum

54

1 hour

F. Carrillo Puerto

144

2 hours

Xcaret

37

10 minutes

Xel-Ha

53

45 minutes

Typically there are 2 levels of bus service in Mexico, first class and coach. First class buses generally adhere closely to the maintained schedule and rarely have any stops between the departure and destination points. However, coach service can be quite different as schedules can and usually will deviate from stated departure and arrival times. Don’t be surprised if many spontaneous stops are made along the way to pick up passengers.

For those wanting to catch a glimpse of Cuidad Cancun and explore a bit, just jump on one of the public buses that pass on the streetside of the hotels. The public buses run frequently and go all over Cuidad de Cancun for just a few pesos. One favorite place to end up is PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS. If you do this, just plan on taking a taxi back into the Hotel Zone (i.e. take extra money for cab fare) it will be easier and faster. Have fun!

Tired of visiting the sights as part of the "herd?" Cannot find an excursion that exactly fits how you'd like to spend your day on the mainland? No problem! COZUMELINSIDER can custom design a mainland excursion just for you and your group!
From US$168

Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise is one of Cancun’s most famous night tours. It is a tranquil trip through the romantic and mild waters of the Nichupte Lagoon on our Spanish Galleon Columbus.
US$ 99.00 Adult / US$ 99.00 Kids

Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise is one of Cancun’s most famous night tours. It is a tranquil trip through the romantic and mild waters of the Nichupte Lagoon on our Spanish Galleon Columbus.
US$ 99.00 Adult / US$ 99.00 Kids

Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise is one of Cancun’s most famous night tours. It is a tranquil trip through the romantic and mild waters of the Nichupte Lagoon on our Spanish Galleon Columbus.
US$ 89.00 Adult / US$ 89.00 Kids

This most popular program can be described in two words: "action" and "speed". Get a handshake, a kiss and then you give them one. Feel the strength of your new friends as they push you across the water from the bottom of your feet in the thrilling foot-push. Later, you will be able to swim with the tender manatees and feed them and meet the amazing stingrays and sharks! It is "the experience of a lifetime!"
US$ 159.00 Adult / US$ 99.00 Kids

Come and enjoy our most popular and exciting tour, in which you will be driving your own two-person speedboat through the majestic mangrove channels of the Nichupté lagoon (Cancun). You will reach the beautiful “Punta Nizuc,” part of the world’s second-largest coral reef where you will have an unforgettable snorkeling experience while admiring the unbelievable marine life.
US$ 69.00 Adult / $ 49.00 Kids

Visit this city that is icon of the Maya culture in the Mexican Caribbean and the only built facing the sea. Due to its amazing architecture and location on a cliff facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea, Tulum is the third most visited prehispanic site in Mexico.
US$ 57.00 Adult / US$ 41.00 Kids

Visit this city that is icon of the Maya culture in the Mexican Caribbean and the only built facing the sea. Due to its amazing architecture and location on a cliff facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea, Tulum is the third most visited prehispanic site in Mexico.
US$ 159.00 Adult / US$ 79.50 Kids

Visit this city that is icon of the Maya culture in the Mexican Caribbean and the only built facing the sea. Due to its amazing architecture and location on a cliff facing the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea, Tulum is the third most visited prehispanic site in Mexico.
US$ 57/Adult & US$ 41/Child

This eco adventure park has the longest and highest 1.86 mile zip lines of the region ending on a refreshing Cenote plunge, adventure jungle tours on amphibious vehicles, an underground universe of 437 yd rivers where you can swim while admiring rock formations, a stunning route across subterranean caverns with natural wells while paddling a raft, and finally a delicious light buffet, that will recharge your energy.
US$ 119/Adult & US$ 59.50/Child

This eco adventure park has the longest and highest 1.86 mile zip lines of the region ending on a refreshing Cenote plunge, adventure jungle tours on amphibious vehicles, an underground universe of 437 yd rivers where you can swim while admiring rock formations, a stunning route across subterranean caverns with natural wells while paddling a raft, and finally a delicious light buffet, that will recharge your energy.
US$ 149/Adult & US$ 74.50/Child